antiques experts... RAJ: That's me.

PAUL: I like that.

VO: ..behind the wheel of a classic car.

TIM: Hold on!

IRITA: (SQUEALS) VO: And a goal, to scour Britain for antiques.

En garde!

VO: The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

I don't believe it!

VO: There'll be worthy winners... PAUL: Yes!

VO: ..and valiant losers.

I was robbed.

VO: Will it be the high road to glory...

Right, come on, let's go.

VO: ..or the slow road to disaster?

DAVID: Oh, Roo!

Oh, Roo!

ROO: (SQUEALS) VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip!

En garde!

VO: Ah Kent, the garden of England.

Famed for its orchards, hops and fruitfulness.

And kicking off point for a couple of cuties ripe for a brand new adventure.

IZZIE (IB): Mr Serrell!

PHILIP (PS): Ah, Miss Balmer!

This is our first road trip together isn't it?

Yes, I'm so looking forward to it.

It'll be good.

VO: Yes, bubbly, vivacious and full of fun, Philip Serrell is joined by calm and level headed Izzie Balmer.

Hang on, that's not right.

Phil, I feel like we are chalk and cheese.

Can I be a mature cheddar?

I don't want to be a smelly Gorgonzola.

I am a cheerful, laughing sort of person.

Bit like me.

No, this is why we're chalk and cheese.

Why's that?

Because you are Mr Grumpy.

No.

I have never, ever seen... Oh my goodness, I was gonna say I've never seen you laugh.

What was that mouth movement?

Trapped wind.

(CHUCKLES) VO: So cultured!

Our young auctioneer Izzie hails from Derbyshire.

She has quite the penchant for jewelry and other tiny treasures.

She's a good judge of character too.

Just looks so grumpy.

Look at that little face.

VO: Remind you of anyone?

A slightly more weathered auctioneer, Worcester man Phil, usually leans towards larger and more eclectic rusty items.

Hello mother.

What are you gonna buy?

Troughs?

PS: No.

IB: Coffee tables?

No, I'm gonna go for quality antiques, Izzie, what about you?

I normally buy little things and I think to get my confidence going I think I might stick to small items.

VO: Well, whatever you go for, you've each got a £200 starting budget and this nippy little 1968 Triumph TR4A for popping to the shops.

I'm with a young lady that's younger than the car I'm in.

Oh yes.

Thanks Izzie.

Yes.

Why, are you older than the car?

Er, I'd rather not answer that, Izzie.

On the grounds of my... You're older than this car!

Sh!

VO: He'll still get you from A to B, Izzie.

And speaking of which... Have you any idea where we're going?

You're in charge.

No, you're the driver.

Oh... Yeah, I'm the driver, you're... IB: Am I navigator?

PS: Navigator.

IB: Oh.

PS: Pilot, navigator.

Now might be the time to tell you I have a terrible sense of direction.

VO: Well, this should be fun.

This trip commences in Kent.

We'll then head west and do a bit of the Midlands before ending up at the final auction in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

This time out, we'll be scouring the shops of the southeast, ending up in Essex at Battlesbridge.

But let's begin our tale in the village of Lenham.

VO: This fabulous old building, home to Corner House Antiques, where Ms Balmer will be the first to get her feet wet.

With rooms aplenty full of lovely stuff, this place is perfect for any antique fan.

VO: See what I did there?

Oh.

Do you know what?

I promised myself I was not going to look at brooches because I always buy brooches.

VO: That'll be a brooch then.

It's a monkey, I mean who doesn't love a monkey?

It's set with marcasite to the back as well, which is a nice little touch.

If you can't afford diamond but you want something that sparkles and catches the candlelight, this does the trick.

It's a good diamond simulant really.

It is priced at £22.

If this was a piece of Victorian costume jewelry, this would be hundreds of pounds because the monkey brooches are really, really collectable.

This is not Victorian and the reason I know this is the quality just isn't there.

This is a much later safety fastening.

So you didn't really get this safety fastening until sort of the '20s, '30s and unfortunately I have just spotted that there is a little marcasite missing here.

VO: Which raises the question, why are you still looking at it?

Cuz it's a monkey!

I mean, just look at him.

And because part of me, the daredevil, just thinks it's maybe worth the risk.

If nothing else I can feed my monkey bananas.

VO: You're bananas.

Ha!

Bring your monkey and let's keep looking.

Ooh.

Well I do like jewelry.

VO: You don't say.

IB: So this I suspect is a mourning bracelet, late Victorian, possibly turn of the century.

So during the 19th century, Queen Victoria famously went into mourning when Prince Albert died and she spent the rest of her life in black, in dark, somber jewelry.

And so mourning jewelry became very fashionable.

It became a statement and the wealthy would... No expense would be spared on their mourning jewelry.

This is a black ribbon with this F and you've got this nine karat gold buckle.

And then these look like teeny, teeny teeny tiny... Well, the posh way of saying it are rose cut diamonds.

For you and me, diamond chips.

They're tiny, they're not worth anything as diamonds, they're that tiny.

But they are certainly very sparkly and catch the light.

And I suspect that it was not a wealthy family, because there is not that much showiness about this.

It is discreet and it is very simple.

VO: That's ticketed up at £58.

IB: To a collector it isn't a great example.

But actually just for this person to be remembered still today in some form by someone buying a mourning bracelet...

I just think there's something really special in that.

VO: Quite right too.

Meanwhile, Mr Serrell has finally made it to his first shop in the village of Bethersden.

His shopping starts here at the Antiques Barn.

He loves a barn, does our Philip.

So this is like day one, first shop, £200.

Money to burn.

And this place is stacked to the rafters with everything.

VO: It's big alright.

You never know what you might unearth.

I mean, you've got what looks to be a portable loo there.

VO: Ha!

Might need that later in the week.

VO: Charming.

I think something a little more refined might be called for.

Seeing a forest of blue and white china.

That is lovely.

That really is lovely.

This little beauty here is a piece of creamware that dates to probably 1800, 1820.

It's a chestnut basket, would have originally sat on a stand.

And I just think that's really, really beautiful.

Now, the first rule of buying any ceramic is don't buy anything that's damaged.

And the second rule is don't buy anything that's damaged.

And the third rule is don't buy anything that's damaged.

Listen to this.

(HOLLOW TAPPING) VO: That's damaged.

It's got a crack all the way across here.

But... it's £18.

You know, if you put that like that... Can you see the damage in that?

The answer's no.

So actually, it looks the part.

Do you think Izzie Balmer would buy this?

Probably no.

Cuz this is a real old school lot that's gonna be bought by an old school bloke.

VO: You'd better find someone in charge then.

Debbie, I think this is lovely.

Beautiful.

£18.

I'm gonna have that.

Shan't even bid you on it.

But I know there's hidden gold in here somewhere so I'm gonna go and have a good look round.

PS: Thank you.

DEALER: Thank you.

VO: Just yell if you get lost mate.

Back in Lenham though, with two bits of jewelry under review, Izzie's still on the lookout for something else.

Oh, I do seem to be going for type in this shop.

I mean, I did tell Phil that I'd probably stick with small, pretty items.

This is a dip pen.

And what I love, love, love, love about it is this little horse at the end here.

It's just a bit different, isn't it?

And then you've got this beautiful mother-of-pearl stem and then the silver end where you would attach your nib.

It's just really, really pretty.

And it's in such lovely condition as well.

You know, the mother-of-pearl isn't chipped and the end here, it's not been dented.

However, a fairly major issue is the price.

85 smackers, £85.

(INHALES SHARPLY) That's a lot of money out of my budget.

VO: It is.

And with the two jewelry items from earlier your haul comes to a grand total of £165.

Time for a bit of a chat.

Hi Lynne.

Izzie.

How generous are you feeling?

DEALER: That depends.

IB: Because... Well, the reason I ask is I've got a bit carried away, as per usual, and I found three things.

What's the very best that you can do?

110 for the lot.

How about we round it down to a hundred?

Why not?

Go on.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

DEALER: Yes.

IB: Amazing.

VO: So that's £50 for the pen, 35 for the bracelet and only 15 for the brooch, proving that if you pay peanuts, you do indeed get monkeys.

Ha!

Now, back to Phil still wandering around the labyrinth.

PS: There is blooming stuff everywhere in here.

Do you ever do stock takes Debbie?

DEALER: No.

PS: What about dusting?

Nope, no dusting.

No, I can see that.

Oh, cheeky!

VO: Isn't he just?

Ah, now that looks like your typical Serrell lot.

A really good set of one, two, three, four, five, six tread step ladders.

Well I reckon I created the market in these cuz you can use them in bathrooms to put towels on or you put a ladder here, a ladder there, plank across them and make shelves.

But in this instance, I'm actually gonna use this as a stepladder.

VO: Well, that's a novelty.

Cuz I wanna have a look at that.

Oh my life.

VO: Steady!

Haven't got a head for heights.

VO: Right, what have you spotted?

So this is London in miniature with surrounding villages, entire new plan, published by Edward Mogg, it's 19th century.

I think that's absolutely fantastic.

So who's gonna buy that?

Well, that's a really good decorator's lot.

The one thing I'm kind of just a bit hesitant about is I think it's been cut down.

PS: Debbie!

DEALER: Yeah?

Before I fall off here... DEALER: Oh dear.

I like this map here, this London miniature map.

Do you know much about it?

I absolutely know nothing about it, actually.

It isn't mine.

What's the very, very best you could do on that?

OK, well, it had 75 on it.

The best on it could be 60.

Do you think this might have been cut down?

You see, I think it is and I'll tell you for why.

You've got one, two, three full squares, but then a half square here.

So I'm pretty sure it has been cut down, which is a real crying shame.

But at 60 quid I think it might be worth a punt.

VO: Can you come down?

Now?

You're making me nervous.

PS: So Debs, I'm gonna break my own golden rule cuz I'll definitely have that little creamware dish at £18... OK, lovely.

..which is damaged and I'm definitely gonna have that, which is cut down, at 60 quid.

So that's £78, isn't it?

VO: Spot on.

Still leaves him with £122 for later though.

We'll have the map sent on, I think.

Better not risk sending Philip up that ladder again.

Righto then, let's roll out.

VO: Now Izzie's put her shopping on hold as she's off for a spot of sightseeing in historic Royal Tunbridge Wells.

The height of Georgian splendor back in the 18th century, it's now a popular and affluent suburban town, but to find out about its much humbler beginnings Izzie is heading up to the downs to meet historian Chris Jones.

400 years ago there was nothing here.

There was no village, there was no people, it was just a wilderness.

And then one day someone discovered a spring.

VO: That someone was Dudley, the third Baron North, a member of James I's court.

In 1606, he became ill and left London to recuperate in the country.

On his travels, he passed through this deserted valley.

And he saw a stream and the water was a funny orange color.

So he took a sample, took it back to London and it was analyzed and it was found to be chalybeate, iron bearing.

So Dudley came back, had more water, and miraculously recovered.

VO: Dudley's discovery caused a stir at court and soon England's rich and powerful were beating a path to this isolated spot for its health benefits.

What kind of people came here?

Well initially, it was kings and queens.

Henrietta Maria, that's Charles I's wife, she came and she had to camp on the common.

IB: I imagine her camping is very different to our sort of camping.

I would expect so... She was probably glamping, wasn't she?

Glamping is probably the word for it, yes.

For the first 50 or 60 years there was no buildings here at all.

It was just this spring in this wonderful wilderness.

They came here to pretend to be nymphs and shepherds, to commune with nature.

It was a means of escaping from court, of getting away and, well, misbehaving really.

VO: Oh.

To cater to these regal visitors, buildings began to spring up and a town was born.

The Pantiles, the town's famous parade, provided shops, ballrooms and coffee houses as well as gambling and other less reputable amusements.

VO: Tunbridge Wells became the ultimate Georgian party destination, all thanks to the healing properties of its waters.

So this is the famous spring.

Yes, if it hadn't been for this spring, there wouldn't be a Tunbridge Wells.

You can tell from the orange stain all the way around the springs that it contains iron.

Iron has always been thought of as being a tonic, so that when Dudley, Lord North, first discovered the spring, that's what cured him.

VO: By the 19th century, Tunbridge Wells's reputation as the place to be was on the wane.

As the smart set gravitated towards the new craze of seaside resorts, they were replaced by more permanent residents as the town reinvented itself as a place to live rather than to visit.

There was an increasing number of prosperous shopkeepers and bankers, industrialists in the City of London.

They wanted a different way of living.

They wanted to separate business life from family life.

And they wanted to get out of London, out of the dirt and the disease.

And ideally, they'd want a family home somewhere where they could enjoy the countryside.

And in the 1820s, a property developer called John Ward found a way of meeting that demand in Tunbridge Wells.

VO: Designed by celebrated architect Decimus Burton, Calverley was an arc of 24 fabulous Italianate houses, each with high hedges and a view of the open countryside to give the occupants the feeling of owning a private country estate.

It was the start of a brand new concept in housing, the suburbs.

Well Chris, this is lovely.

We've got the sun shining, we've got our tea and our cake.

Has Tunbridge Wells remained the quintessential suburb?

Yes, in many ways.

Things have changed.

We don't have the Indian Army officers or so many maiden aunts here, but it's still really very popular with London commuters.

You live in Tunbridge Wells, you leave Tunbridge Wells at 7.15 in the morning, you get back 7.15 in the evening, so you only actually see it at the weekends.

Um, but it's worth it for the quality of life.

I quite agree.

I could certainly get used to this, Chris.

VO: The town became the epitome of suburban living for the well to do.

And in 1909 it was named Royal Tunbridge Wells in honor of its popularity with regal visitors.

Not a bad achievement for what was a barren wilderness a mere 400 years ago.

Now, whither Phil?

Already off to his second shop of the day, although there's a slight tinge of doubt about that map he bought earlier.

There's a chance it's a copy.

And I think as a copy it's a decorative item, hopefully it's gonna make, I dunno, 50 to £80.

Might make a tenner.

VO: Well, worry about that later.

For now he's off to the village of Brasted.

Listed in the Domesday Book, it's very old and very pretty.

Quite densely packed with antique shops too.

Philip's plumped for this one, Courtyard Antiques.

PS: This is good, proper, old fashioned antique shop.

They've got some beautiful things.

VO: They have indeed.

Plenty to throw your remaining £122 at.

What does that say?

1970s plaster of Par... Do you know what?

I'm such a fool because I thought plaster of Paris, I thought that was some French fashion house.

VO: (CHUCKLES) Oh lordy!

It's actually made of plaster of Paris, you absolute idiot.

(FRENCH ACCENT) I work for Plaster of Paris.

VO: You silly beast.

Oh, the torch is out.

We mean "busyness".

I quite like that.

It's wastepaper bin, planter, whatever you wanna call it.

Octagonal shaped.

It kinda looks to me like it might be Scandinavian.

And it's quite a good thing for dressing a room, would look great in a really cool office.

But it's got a look and I quite like it.

VO: £95 is the price on that.

Let's talk to shopkeeper Hugh.

Hugh?

Hugh?

Hugh?

How old do you reckon that is?

I reckon it's probably 1910, 1920.

Something like that, isn't it?

So just interwar years, isn't it?

DEALER: Yeah, probably Scandinavian.

PS: Well that's what I thought.

It's almost like folk art, isn't it?

You've got 95 squid on it.

What's the very best?

Very, very, very, very, very best.

Er, 65?

Yeah, I'll have that if I may.

Thank you very, very much.

I'm gonna have a look around cuz there's something else I'd like to buy if I could.

VO: Back to the hunt with you then.

It's a sweet little thing.

And these used to be the meat and drink of the antiques trade.

This is a silver vesta case.

You all know that a vesta case opens up, take your match out and it strikes just along there.

It's a Birmingham hallmark.

When hallmarks were first set up, it was basically designed so that you knew you were getting pure silver.

And in 1776 or somewhere like that Matthew Bolton set up two assay offices in Sheffield and in Birmingham.

But having set them up, he had to have a little emblem, like London has the leopard's head, and he ended up choosing an anchor for Birmingham, and a crown for Sheffield.

And rumor has it that he did so because at the time he was in a pub called The Crown and Anchor.

VO: Fascinating.

Good job he wasn't drinking in The Pig and Whistle.

PS: Hugh!

DEALER: Yeah?

This little vesta case.

It's priced up at £35.

What's the best you can do?

I was hoping you could do 20 quid for it.

No, 25.

Go on, done.

So £25 and 65, by my maths that's 90 quid, isn't it?

VO: Exactly right, leaving him with just £32 for tomorrow's shopping.

You, sir, are a gentleman.

Thanks ever so much.

VO: Quite a busy day for him, wasn't it, eh?

Time to pick up his pal and pop off.

Ah!

Phil, I'm smudging my nails!

No, surely not.

I've got a hair in it and I can't get it out.

That's just the end.

I think the problem is trying to do my nails in an open top car isn't the most sensible plan.

Yeah.

On a road riddled with potholes.

Oh, I just thought it was your bad driving.

Shush, how dare you?

VO: Nighty-night.

We're up early in Essex.

PS: Morning!

IB: Hello!

VO: And it's Izzie's turn behind the wheel.

How are you getting on with the car?

IB: Well I love the car.

PS: It's good.

It's got a very throaty roar, hasn't it?

Yeah, it has.

Yeah.

Oh!

I was trying to hear the throaty roar and I forgot that you have to put the clutch down to do that.

Ah bless.

VO: Now, it's early days but our two are starting to get the measure of each other I think.

Do you know what, Phil?

After our road trip together, I reckon I might have learned quite a lot from you.

You're filling my airhead with lots of knowledge.

That airhead is not an airhead at all, is it?

Well... And Izzie plays the dipsy Izzie very, very, very well.

Thank you.

And I'm not taken in by it.

Oh, damn it!

Can't get you to relax your guard.

No, no, no, dipsy Izzie ain't dipsy.

It's like me, a lot of people think I'm really cheerful and happy.

VO: Do they though?

Yesterday our chipper chap bought quite a bit, plumping for a vesta case, a Scandinavian bin, a creamware chestnut basket and a rather large map, as you do.

I haven't got a head for heights.

VO: All of which leaves him with £32 in his pocket.

Izzie was also chucking money around, spending a straight hundred on a dip pen, a marcasite brooch... Who doesn't love a monkey?

VO: ..and one other thing currently squirreled away in the glove box.

It had it down as a mourning bracelet, which I suspect it probably could be.

So that's gold, nine karat gold.

IB: So that's gold.

PS: Yeah.

And so is the back of the buckle.

That's a good... Oh by the way, they're little diamonds as well.

Great.

It just gets better, doesn't it?

And how much was that?

£35.

Oi!

Stop it!

Stop that now!

VO: That's not cricket is it?

Today will be all about Essex, starting off on the outskirts of the ancient town of Colchester, And Origin Antiques will be our pair's first foray into side by side shopping.

Here we are Phil.

Delivered to the door.

Top job.

VO: Let's hope they play nicely.

Now, furniture's the big thing in here.

And they've got a heap of it.

Should be right up Serrell's street but probably not small and shiny enough for Izzie.

Seems she has more pressing problems though.

I don't know if I've put too many colors on today.

Do I want it with the scarf or without?

PS: Izzie?

IB: Yes.

There's only one scarf on the road trip, you know.

VO: How else could we tell them apart?

Right, what can we find?

It's an Edwardian mahogany music cabinet.

Now, you know, it isn't the most of exciting looking pieces of furniture.

It is that typical dark wood furniture that's gone out of fashion.

But the reason I've made a beeline for it is because... Well, I was gonna say because I'm a musician, that's very big headed.

VO: I think you can blow your own trumpet Izzie.

I do play the viola in orchestras and in a quartet.

And so this would have been something that you would have in your music room.

And you would have your sheet music along here.

And then you'd have your folios down here.

It dates to around 1895 to 1910.

And you can tell this from the gallery back here.

And then from this style of banding.

It is priced at £90.

So it's sadly not really for me.

But you know, I really hope that someone gives us a new home... ..and a new lease of life and it'd be nice to think that it will still be used as a music cabinet.

VO: She's not really in tune with this place.

Phil, on the other hand, seems to be making friends.

Come on, pussycat.

There we are.

Aren't you lovely?

I can't believe that worked, Phil.

It's just animal magnetism.

It only works with animals.

He is such a handsome cat.

I thought you were talking about me for a minute.

You're very handsome as well.

Come on then pussycat, let's go and see what we can find.

Come on, cat.

Come on!

Oh, doesn't show much enthusiasm, does it really?

VO: Looks like the magnetism's worn off, Phil.

You'll have to manage on your own.

Oh, this is lovely.

VO: Looks like a tea caddy.

This is a really lovely burr walnut.

And that can happen naturally when you've got that sort of big gnarled lump on the edge of a tree and you slice through it.

That gives you these rich burr patterns.

Burr veneers were expensive.

So the usual practice was to just veneer the top and possibly the front.

This is actually quite a good well made box because it's burr walnut on the top, it's got burr walnut on the front, they've also got it on the side and they've also got it on the back.

And in some areas that would have been seen as a waste.

If you open it up you can see there's two divisions, India tea and China tea.

And those little compartments are silvered to stop the tea from drying out.

And all importantly, because tea was really, really expensive there's a lock on the front to stop your crafty little manservant from nicking your tea.

VO: A quality piece, but at £75 it's a bit beyond your remaining money.

I've got £32.

So I'm gonna have to really rely on the Serrell charm to see if I can get me through here.

VO: Yeah, well good luck with that.

Fiona!

VO: Blimey Phil.

I really love this little burr walnut tea caddy.

There's one minor issue for me in that it's priced up at £75 and I've got 32 quid.

Well Phil, it might be your lucky day.

We got it at a good price and I can do it for 32, leaving me a little bit.

PS: You're sure?

DEALER: Yes.

Do you know, that's really, really kind.

Thank you.

And I tell you what, there's all me money.

VO: There you go, folks.

The Serrell charm in action.

Time for penniless Phil to depart.

Now, with her £100 still untouched, is there anything for Izzie?

Giddy-up.

Do you know what?

I never had a rocking horse as a kid.

And this is quite possibly the first time that I've sat on one, and I can see the appeal.

Gee up!

Come on, ya, ya!

That's what they say, isn't it?

VO: I don't think she's buying it, but she's having fun.

So we'll just leave her there.

Onwards!

VO: Now, with all this shopping done, Phil's traveled to the coast for a bit of a culinary adventure.

He's come down to Mersea Island to find out how a high class seafood delicacy is being brought back from near extinction.

Hold on.

I've gotta just latch myself up here.

Oh, that's a bit tight.

VO: Safety first Phil.

He has permission to come aboard by skipper and eighth generation oysterman Bram Haward.

Your first job is to untie that and we'll get going.

Is this called an enemy keep is it?

VO: Yeah.

And Phil's fellow passenger is marine biologist Matt Uttley.

He's helping to protect the stocks of a particular shellfish native to these parts, the Colchester oyster.

Matt, I can see you've got a couple of oysters there.

Is like one a baby one and one a grown up one?

No, no.

So these are two different species of oyster.

PS: Yeah.

MATT: So the first one I've got here is a European flat oyster or native oyster.

Here in Essex we know it locally as the Colchester native.

Yeah.

It's the tastier of the two.

But it's a seasonal oyster, so you can only get it between August and April.

Right.

Um, the other one we've got here is a Pacific or rock oyster.

As the name suggests it's from the Pacific.

It's the more common one you see in shops.

VO: They've been harvesting the native oysters here since before the Romans.

So plentiful were they that in the 1800s they were sent off to London in their millions as a cheap source of protein for the masses.

But through overfishing, pollution and loss of habitat, their numbers dwindled rapidly in the 20th century.

MATT: The stocks have declined to such a point that without human intervention, they simply wouldn't recover.

Oysters are fantastic for the environment and for the local industry.

They perform so many benefits that you really can't afford to lose them.

VO: To save the declining industry, the hardier and faster growing Pacific oyster was introduced to the UK in the '60s and soon became a staple for fishmongers and fancy restaurants.

But now there's a concerted effort between the fishing industry and scientists to bring back the tastier local species.

MATT: You're currently in a marine conservation zone, which means that the oysters here can't be fished.

Within this area, we've got special licenses to improve the habitat.

And what's going on down there now?

We've added in vast quantities of what we call cultch... PS: Yeah.

..which is stone and shell, to improve the oyster habitat and allow baby oysters to settle there.

PS: Yeah.

MATT: We've also added in tens of thousands of mature breeding adult oysters to try and increase the breeding potential.

So this here is an oyster spat, it's a baby oyster.

What's really important here is to see that it's settled on a shell.

VO: And in their private fishing grounds oystermen like Bram are using the generations of knowledge to get their own stocks back from the brink.

MATT: It's their expertise that we need in order to allow us to restore oysters on a bigger scale.

PS: So you really are working together, aren't you?

MATT: Completely.

VO: Whilst the Pacific oyster still makes up over 90% of sales, the Colchester native is coming back as a pricier gourmet delicacy.

Now, as there's an R in the month, the traditional time to eat oysters, let's head ashore for a taste test with Bram's father, Richard.

Hi Richard.

There's seven generations of you done this, and Bram, he's the eighth generation.

That's correct.

You must get a huge amount of pride from that.

Oh yeah, I think that's why we, you know, we'd like to see this project succeed.

I feel quite privileged actually that I'm gonna shortly be trying the Rolls Royce of oysters.

Can you tell the difference in taste between these?

Yes, I would say so.

Um, most people think the rock oyster is more salty than the native.

There is a definite difference.

So Richard, this is a native, isn't it?

That's right, yes.

Chew or swallow?

I think you need to chew them to get the taste of them really.

VO: (CHORTLES) I think we might have the wrong man for this job.

It's acquired, that, isn't it?

Yes, that is very often the word used.

So this is a rock one, is it?

That's it.

Have I got to have this as well?

Yes.

I want you to compare the taste.

VO: Down the hatch, Phil.

(CHUCKLES) Ooh dear.

Ooh.

Richard, I gotta tell you, the native is actually quite nice.

The other one was a bit gloopy really.

Yeah, the texture is I think the main difference.

Yeah.

But what I am looking forward to is coming back here and seeing the ninth generation with a whole host of natives.

Well, we hope so.

Yeah, I'll have the acquired taste by then.

I hope.

VO: I think we should call him Phil-istine Serrell from now on.

(GIGGLES) Elsewhere though, out and about in Essex, our Izzie still has some work to do.

I'm feeling quite chuffed with myself for buying three items yesterday in one shop.

And I'm very glad that I did because I utterly failed this morning.

But it does rather put the pressure on this afternoon.

VO: And you'd better get motoring because time is slipping away.

VO: She's turning the Triumph towards Battlesbridge and her last shop of the day.

Well, I say shop.

The Battlesbridge Antique Centre is more like a small town.

Lots of outlets packed full of goodies ripe for the picking.

But it's a bit quiet.

Isn't it?

Too quiet.

I'm really panicking because this whole place is like a ghost town.

It's sort of closed up and I can't very easily buy something when the shop is closed.

What am I gonna do?

What am I gonna do?

VO: It's no good having £100 in your pocket if there's nowhere to spend it.

Ah, an open door.

They might look kindly on a stranger in need.

Oh Jenny, thank you so much for staying open for me.

That's OK.

I am really panicking because I know we're past your closing time.

I would really like to buy two items, preferably either something a little bit interesting or something with a bit of quality or a bit unusual.

DEALER: Have you had a look upstairs?

Why not?

Let's start there.

Let's have a look at it.

DEALER: Let's get somewhere.

IB: Yes!

(WHISPERS) I'm so worried.

VO: Calm yourself, Izzie.

Just take a moment.

Not too long though.

Some of us have homes to go to.

This is lovely, cute little pineapple inkwell.

Erm, I mean, who doesn't love a pineapple?

So it's cut glass crystal and it's got this lovely gilt metal frondy bit.

Um... VO: Er, leaves?

And then you have this gilt metal banding here.

And then the, um... Well... VO: More leaves.

She's had a long day.

It is a little used.

It's lost the gilding to the metal and it's missing its glass liner inside.

But I do like it and, truth be told, Jenny needs to go in five minutes.

And so I have five minutes and I would really like to get two items.

So... Jenny?

DEALER: Hello.

IB: Hello.

I have this really magnificent pineapple here in my hand but there is no price on it.

Well actually that's one of mine.

Ah.

How much is it please?

For you?

IB: Yes.

DEALER: £40.

OK, £40.

There's one more item I think I'd like to get, so I'm just going to go and have a quick look at it.

I promise I'll be really, really quick.

VO: Hop to it then.

I saw this earlier.

It's an art-deco compact.

So you've got this classic sort of art deco geometric design and also you've got the typical, in this case black and silver, contrasting.

In the art-deco period it was all about shape, it was all about contrast.

This is a lady's compact.

So you have here a little mirror and this would have contained powder and also in the back here cigarettes.

So it was fashionable for ladies to smoke in the 1920s.

VO: Not so much now though.

That's priced at £55.

If I was an art-deco 1920s lady I'd feel very cool and fashionable having this.

I really do like this.

I just don't like the price.

Jenny?

Hello again.

Hello.

I did promise you I'd be really quick.

This art-deco compact is priced at £55.

Do you know if there's anything that could be done on that price?

Well actually, I do know the dealer.

She's the lady who actually started this center, Sheila.

Oh!

And she would do that for 35 for you.

VO: Making £75 with that inkwell from earlier.

I am completely out of time.

So yes please.

VO: She did it!

Still has £25 left as well.

Jenny, thank you so much.

I'm going to scoot and get out of your hair so you can go home.

DEALER: Bye!

IB: Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

VO: Pick up your pineapple and let's head off.

Phil will be worried - it's way past his bedtime.

Well, that's the end of that, isn't it?

Goodbye Essex.

Goodbye Essex!

Toodle-oodle-oo.

VO: On to the auction after some shuteye, of course.

Now it's time to see if all their hard work has paid off.

And they couldn't have chosen a nicer spot for it.

Izzie, isn't it just lovely here?

It is glorious.

It's taking my mind off the sort of possibly impending doom that we're just about to experience.

I had actually forgotten about that.

Yeah, I've tried to.

My stomach has just plummeted now you've reminded me.

VO: I'm sure you'll both do fine.

After kicking off in Kent, our on edge experts have headed up to St Neots in Cambridgeshire for some virtual auction watching.

Meanwhile, the real action is happening down in Battle, East Sussex, not a million miles from where they started.

The saleroom of Burstow and Hewett will be their testing ground with bidders online on the phone and on the premises.

Izzie shelled out £175 on five auction lots.

Is any of it tickling the fancy of today's hammer man Mark Ellin?

Mark?

The ladies' compact and cigarette case is one of my favorite things in the whole sale.

It's in the shape of a 1930s folding camera and it's small and collectable and it's got everything going for it.

VO: Very good.

Philip burned through his entire £200 budget on his five lots.

Anything noteworthy, Mark?

Big map of London.

Looks great to start with until you look closely and see that it is just a photographic reprint.

It's not quite what it seemed to be in first place.

VO: Ah well, no turning back now.

Shall we hit the button?

Yes, let's do it.

VO: First under the hammer, Phil's creamware basket.

Cracking lot, this.

Literally.

MARK: £30, Thank you.

PS: Oh!

IB: Yeah!

PS: Profit!

Get in!

IB: Profit!

MARK: At £30 then.

That's almost doubled your money, Phil.

I'll take that, Izzie.

Selling at 30, it's going then.

First bid here.

Phew.

That's a kind of relief in a way.

VO: Given the damage I'd say that's a result It's off to a new home.

Yeah, and I'm not bust, more importantly.

No.

VO: Time for some monkey business now.

Izzie's marcasite brooch.

I'm bit nervous now, Phil.

The bidding here is up to 50, 60, 70.

VO: Gob well and truly smacked!

Well done you!

(CHUCKLES) 80 online now, at 80.

Any further bids here?

We're up to 80 online.

I love monkeys.

I love bananas.

I love 1940s brooches.

Fair warning, it's going online then.

My monkey is swinging.

£80 here then?

That's brilliant Izzie, well done you.

OK. Phil, this rarely happens.

I'm lost for words.

VO: Like you said, who doesn't love a monkey?

I need to trust my gut instinct more, don't I?

Well, you need to buy more brooches.

VO: Next up it's that not so historic map of Phil's.

It's Elizabethan.

It's what?

Elizabethan.

The original?

PS: The second.

MARK: £50 bid for it.

£50, 60 in the front here now.

70 online now.

Phil!

You're in a profit!

I knew it all the time.

90 online.

Phil!

£90!

Are you out on the phone?

The phone's out.

We're up to 100 online now, at 100.

VO: This is a surprise.

110.

Yes... Phil, this is amazing.

This is epic.

It's incredible, Izzie.

I need to buy copies.

My flabber is gasted.

140.

150.

At 150, the bidding's yours online then.

160.

(THEY CHUCKLE) I don't understand that.

170.

180.

Still going.

It's not stopping.

£180 for it.

190.

Look, he's trying not to smile, the auctioneer.

I'm trying really hard not to myself.

£200 bid.

All done?

Last chance, £200 bid then.

Congratulations.

£200.

VO: Well I don't know how he did it but he did it.

Blimey, I'm delighted.

Well done you.

VO: It's the turn of Izzie's mourning bracelet next, complete with teeny tiny diamonds.

I've £80 bid for it.

£80.

Get in.

On the net here.

Online here at £80.

Oh, come on.

Let's see some more.

It's a maiden bid.

No more bids?

Going at £80.

The bidding's here then.

At 80.

Short and sweet.

That's a good job, isn't it?

VO: No shame in a maiden bid when it makes you that sort of money.

We're doing alright here, Izzie, aren't we?

Cooking on gas!

VO: Another of Phil's old school lots now, his vesta case.

£30 I'm bid.

At 30.

Any advance on that?

We're at 30.

Go on.

MARK: At £30.

PS: Go on.

We're up to 30, it's bid at the moment.

Oh, come on internet!

35, 40 now.

We're up to 40.

Selling online then.

Going now at £40.

I'm delighted with that, Izzie.

VO: As well you should be.

He's starting to get a bit of a lead going.

Look at that smile.

It doesn't happen very often, does it?

It really doesn't happen.

VO: No.

Let's see if Izzie's dip pen is anything to write home about.

30 I'm bid for it.

At 30.

It's a nip in and out.

Oh!

Online again at 40.

Come on, keep going, keep going.

At 50.

You're out of trouble, Izzie.

At 50 at the moment.

60 again now.

And selling.

Last chance.

Going online at £60 here then.

I thought it would do a bit more than that.

VO: Yeah, it's funny that a £10 profit feels disappointing.

What bothered me, Izzie, was that I thought, out of all your lots, that was the one that I thought could make a good profit for you, a really good profit.

VO: Oh look, there's nothing like a moving target for wastepaper basketball.

Ha.

Phil's bin is next.

I mean, wastepaper bins are really useful.

Thanks Izzie.

40 bid for this one.

50.

Lots of internet bidders here.

60 we're up to now, 60.

Phil, you're gonna get a profit.

80.

90.

At 90.

100, 110.

Philip Serrell.

VO: Yep, he's off again.

140.

150.

IB: Philip Serrell.

MARK: 170.

That's a dear old bid, isn't it?

MARK: 180.

IB: Phil!

IB: £180.

PS: I'm staggered.

It's 180 and selling then.

For the last time at 180 then.

You are on fire.

I'm just staggered.

VO: Someone really wanted to throw some paper in it.

Well done you.

Blimey.

VO: Time for Izzie's pineapple inkwell.

Lovely frondy bits there.

40.

45.

50 we're up to now.

50 online here.

At 50.

60.

70.

Still going now.

Ha!

I like it when I make a profit, Phil.

The smiles come out for profit.

At 90.

Bid's here at 90.

90.

How did that happen?

100.

Well done Izzie.

And selling, here on the net, at 100 it's going then.

Top job, you!

VO: Pretty good for last minute panic buy.

It's kind of nice when your judgment gets backed, isn't it?

Yes.

VO: Let's see if Phil's tea caddy can keep this clean sweep going.

It's his last lot.

£40 I'm bid for that one.

It's worth 40.

It's a lovely example.

At 40, the bidding's here.

50.

Last chance on 50.

That's not bad, Phil.

£50?

£50 here then.

In a way I thought it deserved a little bit more, but it would be really disingenuous of me to moan at all with the day that I've had.

VO: Phil passing up a chance to moan?

Things really have gone well.

I'm delighted.

Delighted, delighted, delighted.

VO: We can tell.

And finally the auctioneer's top lot - Izzie's art-deco compact.

50 I have to start.

PS: Get in!

IB: (CHUCKLES) Get in, Izzie.

60, here in the front.

I love it.

I'm...

I'm just in love with this auctioneer.

But you laugh, Izzie, and I love it when you laugh.

Bidding's here at 80 in the room now.

Last chance now.

Selling at the front here.

Going at £80 here then.

That's great, isn't it?

VO: Abso-flipping-lutely!

Profits all round, some big ones too.

10 out of 10.

And I actually think it's quite close.

VO: Well let's find out.

Izzie played a blinder.

She started out with £200 and after saleroom fees she's grown that to an impressive £355.

A result!

But Philip really smashed it out of the park.

He also began with £200 but after auction costs, that's more than doubled.

He now has £410 for next time.

VO: Well played all round.

We better go celebrate.

Go on then.

Whee!

Oh!

VO: Someone's overexcited.

Off we go then.

subtitling@stv.tv